Good morning,
In recent years several members of our Messiah family have been called into active military service. Unquestionably it is important, essential work in the defense of our country and its interests around the world. When the call comes, everything else becomes secondary. There are deadlines to meet, training to fulfill, and finally deployment wherever the assigned base may be. The work may be difficult and involve sacrifices. It could be dangerous. But many speak of it as an honor to serve in the name of the United States.
Whether or not we ever serve in the armed forces, the apostle Paul says that as believers we too have been called into service. He wrote to the Corinthians: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1:2). We have been called into the highest service there is, that of saints, holy people.
Do you feel like a saint this morning? Probably not. We know ourselves. We know what the mirror of God’s law reflects back to us. Hardly holy, we are sinners through and through. Already today we have missed the mark God sets for us. Yet He has called us to be holy. He pronounces you holy, not because of how good you are, but because of how perfect Jesus was for you. “Through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19). Jesus’ holy life is the replacement for our fatally flawed lives. His cross is the payment in full for our debt.
What does that mean for us today? We are called into the Lord’s service to live as the people He has made us—saints. What do holy people do? Paul writes, “Be imitators of God…and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God…For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Eph. 5:1-2, 8).
As you begin your day, ask yourself how you can let the light of Jesus shine. Can it be by putting off something you wanted to do in order to be kind and helpful toward someone else? Is there someone to whom you can show the light of forgiveness for a hurt of yesterday? Encouraging a friend with a Bible passage or an invitation to hear the Word with us tomorrow can brighten even a snowy, overcast day.
Soldiers can be easily identified by their uniform. God has covered us from head to toe in Jesus’ robe of righteousness. Let’s be honored to wear that robe, thank God for it, and gladly let others see it, that they too may be called to faith and live for Jesus.
In His name,
Pastor
Services are at 8:00 and10:45 a.m. The children will sing at the beginning of second service. Choir is at 9:10 with Sunday school at 9:30 and adult Bible class at 9:45 a.m.
The public school confirmation class meets at 12:15 p.m.
The planning session for this fall’s CLC Teachers Conference will be held at 4 p.m. (Not at 6 p.m. as originally scheduled).
